New Delhi, Mar 10: There has been a decline in production of oilseeds during 2002-03 compared with previous years due to drought conditions prevailing in major oilseed producing states, Lok Sabha was informed today. While the estimated production in 2002-03 was 154.4 lakh tonnes, it was 204.6 lakh tonnes in 2001-02, agriculture minister Ajit Singh said during question hour.
Asked whether oilseed production had doubled from nine to 18 million tonnes in mid-80s when there was serious drought primarily due to the oilseed technology mission of Rajiv Gandhi government, he said the production had further doubled from 12.7 million tonnes in 1987-88 to 24.75 million tonnes in 1998-99. The output collapsed this fiscal due to the "unprecedented drought", Singh said, adding Rajasthan was one of the major oilseed producing states which was badly affected by drought.
Total oilseed production had declined from 207 lakh tonnes in 1999-00 to 184.3 lakh tonnes next year, but increased to 204.6 lakh tonnes in 2001-02, declining again this fiscal to 154.4 lakh tonnes, he added. Bureau Report